The President of the Czech Science Foundation (GACR) Petr Baldrian awarded the five best scientific projects this evening at the Strahov Monastery. The awarded basic research has significantly contributed to the deepening of knowledge in the given disciplines and opened the way to further practical application.
The winning projects and their results have contributed to the discovery of new alloys with unique properties, increased our ability to divert the orbits of potentially dangerous asteroids threatening the Earth, opened new pathways for cancer treatment research, but also focused on the link between poverty and ethical decision-making or plant chemistry strategies.
“Selecting five award-winning projects from dozens of top projects was very challenging this year: just like in the years before, there were many results that were reflected in the most prestigious scientific media. The selected projects benefit from prestigious international collaboration and also have the potential to extend into applied research. With their results, the project investigators show that it is possible to do world-class science in the Czech Republic and are an inspiration for future generations,” said the President of the Czech Science Foundation, Prof. Petr Baldrian.
The Czech Science Foundation President’s Award has been regularly awarded since 2003 in recognition of outstanding results achieved in grant projects completed in the previous year. Recipients are selected on the recommendation of several hundred scientists who evaluate projects funded by the Czech Science Foundation. The awards are presented in five areas of basic research: Technical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Medical and Biological Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Agricultural and Biological-Environmental Sciences.
This year, for the first time, the laureates received a trophy depicting the foundation’s motif along with their award. The trophy was created from recycled glass and 3D printing by designers from Plastenco design in cooperation with the Czech Science Foundation. “The design and production of a unique trophy linked to science and basic research is a highly prestigious matter for us. The dominant part is made up of circles inspired by the logo of the Czech Science Foundation, rendered in the colour of bronze. We have applied a small element of playfulness: the circles can be moved, taken out, bent and inserted according to one’s own imagination,” says Kateřina Sýsová, co-founder of the company.
The award ceremony was attended by representatives of the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Education, the Research, Development and Innovation Council, universities, the Czech Academy of Sciences and dozens of other distinguished guests.
Award-Winning Projects
Technical Sciences
Prof. Ing. Hanuš Seiner, Ph.D., DSc., Institute of Thermomechanics of the CAS
Laser and ultrasound to revolutionize materials engineering: Revealing hidden structures in alloys for new technologies (project:Advanced laser-ultrasonic characterization of structural transitions in metals – analysis beyond the homogeneity assumption)
Scientists have designed laser-ultrasonic methods to characterize newly developed generations of alloys, which often have complex microstructures and unusual elastic properties. These materials have a wide range of applications, for example in optical devices or joint implants. The project has also contributed to the discovery of several new alloys with unique properties.
Physical Sciences
Mgr. Petr Pravec, Dr., Astronomical Institute of the CAS
Asteroids on a collision course: How space probes and new discoveries help protect Earth from collision
project: Physical and dynamical properties of space mission target asteroids, and their evolutionary paths
Scientists have analyzed the physical properties and parameters of asteroids based on changes in their luminous flux. This has been crucial for space missions to these objects and the subsequent interpretation of the obtained data. They were also involved in the US DART mission, which tested technology to deflect potentially dangerous asteroids by impacting the asteroid Dimorphos.
Medical and Biological Sciences
Mgr. et Mgr. Dalibor Blažek, Ph.D., Masaryk University – CEITEC
An important enzyme in the fight against cancer: How CDK11 opens up new possibilities for cancer treatment
project: Characterization of kinase activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11), an essential enzyme for the growth of cancer
Enzymes from the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family control important functions in the cell. CDK-blocking substances are important in cancer research and treatment. Scientists have discovered that the overlooked enzyme CDK11 plays a key role in RNA editing. The substance OTS964, which has anti-cancer activity and blocks CDK11, prevents RNA editing in the cell. The research has revealed a new mechanism of RNA editing in the cell, providing new opportunities for cancer treatment research.
Social Sciences and Humanities
Doc. PhDr. Julie Chytilová, Ph.D., Economics Institute of the CAS
Poverty and behavior: How financial distress affects ethics and decision-making
project: Determinants of Pro-Social and Anti-Social Behavior: Field Experimental Evidence
Research among Ugandan farmers shows that poverty and financial distress lead to impatient behavior – people prefer immediate consumption and do not want to wait for longer-term results. This can worsen their future situation and keep them in a ‘vicious cycle of poverty’. Financial distress also increases the risk of unethical behavior. Research findings suggest that even short-term assistance can improve the decision-making and economic situation of the poor in the long term.
Agricultural and Biological-Environmental Sciences
RNDr. Martin Volf, Ph.D., Biology Centre of the CAS
How insect invaders shape the chemical defences of plants: Secrets of the diverse chemical makeup of willows
project: Why is there such high diversity of chemical defences: role of insect herbivory in promoting chemical diversity in willows
Plants produce hundreds of thousands of chemicals. They are able to tailor their production to survive in different environments. In harsh climates, they produce high concentrations of a narrow range of substances, while when insects attack, they produce a large number of chemicals, including those that attract the predators of the insects in question. Research has revealed how the chemical strategies of plants evolve and how the vast amounts of substances they produce are created.
Terezie Mandáková from CEITEC, a research institute of Masaryk University, received the Czech Science Foundation President’s Award in 2020. We present an interview with her and her colleague Ales Kovařík from the Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, with whom she jointly works on projects funded by the Czech Science Foundation. In this interview, prepared by CEITEC, you will learn how their research on plants is progressing, how this research can help to face global challenges, and how humour and sense of perspective help to cope with the enormous burden that research can mean for personal life.
Some growers talk to their plants. Beyond the psychological impact on humans, does this also affect plants? Do you also talk to plants in the lab?
Terezie Mandáková (TM): While plants likely don’t “hear” words the way we do, they are sensitive to their environmental, including sound. Research has shown that sound vibrations can influence plant growth. For instance, studies suggest that exposing plants to certain sound frequencies can stimulate their development. Sounds akin to human conversation may promote fluid movement within plants, potentially benefiting their metabolism. As for me, do I talk to them? Well, sometimes I sing in the lab (laughs). It lightens the mood and creates a more relaxed atmosphere.
Aleš Kovařík (AK): You observe them more closely, checking on how they’re doing, and you strive to provide the best possible conditions. This added care definitely has a positive effect on plant health. It’s similar to raising children – the more time, love, and attention you give them, the better the outcome. So, from both a scientific and psychological perspectives, it’s a lovely way to connect with nature.
Gossypium hirsutum (Cotton Plant) has chromosomes from both parents. It has a higher fibre yield and drought resistance
It seems that the combination of feminine and masculine elements in your research partnership works remarkably well. What makes you such effective collaborators?
TM: What truly enhances our project is how our different perspectives enrich our work. It’s not about whether the team is exclusively male, female, or mixed – what matters is maintaining an open mind and welcoming diverse opinions. This approach fosters team energy and creativity. While we sometimes feel pressure to boost the number of women in projects at all costs, I believe research should not focus on quotas. Ultimately, it’s the talent and skills each individual brings to the team that lead to innovative outcomes.
AK: We have been working together for several years, and we complement each other perfectly, despite the generation gap. The younger CEITEC team brings knowledge of modern technologies and innovative methods, while I contribute experience and best practices. This blend of youth and experience creates unique opportunities for research development. For instance, when we worked on a project funded by the Czech Science Foundation (GACR), this dynamic proved highly effective. We successfully secured two grant projects and are currently working on another.
Both of you are involved in joint research on hybrid and allopolyploid plants. I understand that a hybrid plant is an offspring resulting from the crossing of two different species or varieties, but what exactly is an allopolyploid?
AK: Generally, hybrids tend to be infertile. A classic example is the mule or the hinny, which are crossbreeds between horses and donkeys. While these hybrids are strong and vigorous, they cannot produce offspring. This is where allopolyploidy comes into play, as it can ensure the fertility of hybrids, potentially leading to the creation of new species. In a typical hybrid, the offspring receives one set of chromosomes from each parent. In contrast, an allopolyploid has duplicated sets, meaning it has two complete sets of chromosomes. This “double dose” of genetic material often gives plants unique characteristics. A prime example is wheat, which results from crossing three different grass species, leading to six sets of chromosomes. This genetic complexity contributes to wheat’ greater resistance and improved growth traits.
What exactly are you focusing on with hybrid and allopolyploid plants?
TM: We’re interested in how their genes change and adapt. We study the mechanisms that influence the function of ribosomal DNA and ribosomes. In simple terms, we examinate how genetic differences between the parent plants are expressed in allopolyploids and how this impacts ribosome formation and the plants’ adaptability to various conditions. Our research contributes to better understanding of plant evolution, the origin of new species, and the factors that influence their genetic diversity.
Examples of cytogentic study of bittercress
How are ribosomes and ribosomal DNA related?
TM: Imagine that in every cell, whether in your body or in plants, there is a little factory that constantly produces the essential building blocks – proteins. This factory is called a ribosome. To function properly, ribosomes need instructions, and that’s where ribosomal DNA, or rDNA, comes in. It serves as a library that stores the blueprints ribosomes use to assemble proteins.
AK: We recently published a paper in The Plant Journal exploring why nature has provided these factories with two different types of blueprints and the significance of each. While we know quite a bit about 35S rDNA, the 5S rDNA we study remains largely a mystery, particularly in hybrid and allopolyploid plants where the genomes of different species are combined.
How do you unravel this mystery, and what have you found in your research?
TM: Our research focuses on three species of bittercress, a meadow plant that serves as a “lab mouse” for our studies. We have discovered something akin to a revolution in the ribosomal factory. Imagine two factories producing similar products merging to create innovative new ones, using the best components from both. In allopolyploid plants, the genetic materials from both parent species combine to form what we call chimeric ribosomes. Interestingly, during this process, some genes are often “switched off”. This likely happens because the cell needs to simplify its genetic makeup and stabilise its functions.
AK: When a cell receives multiple copies of the same or similar genes during hybridisation or polyploidisation, it can lead to overload and unbalanced activity. This is where epigenetic regulation comes into play, helping cells avoid issues like overproduction of molecules or malfunctioning cellular processes. By silencing certain genes, plants can more effectively process genetic information from both parents and adapt to new conditions.
T. Mandáková, A. Kovařík
Gene switching likely did not emerge overnight; rather, it is probably an integral part of plant evolution. What are the implications for the plant kingdom?
AK: The implications are significant. Gene silencing acts like a silent conductor, guiding how a plant responds to environmental changes. It can silence genes from one parent while activating genes from the other, allowing the plant to optimize its adaptability in a given environment. This process can even cause different populations of the same species to activate or silence distinct combinations of genes, ultimately leading to genetically unique lineages. Such mechanisms promote evolutionary diversification and can lead to the origin of new species that are better adapted to specific conditions.
Listening to you, it seems almost impossible to fit research into a standard eight-hour workday. How do you manage to juggle your demanding scientific work with your personal life?
TM:The key is balance and effective time management. When science is also your hobby, you find joy in it, which helps recharge you during challenging moments. However, it’s crucial to maintain clear boundaries between work and personal life, set priorities, and sometimes even laugh at your own mistakes. Humour and perspective, in my opinion, are essential for success and satisfaction both at work and at home.
AK: I completely agree with Teri. However, like any hobby, a passion for science must be tempered. If you become overly zealous, you can easily get lost in research that leads nowhere. Having a strong background in family, engaging in cultural activities, or participating in sports not only provides balance, but also fosters important self-reflection that helps clarify what truly matters. For instance, I love volunteering at a kids’ summer camp; it reminds me that the challenges at work aren’t as overwhelming as they may seem. Conversely, a scientific approach can enhance your ability to critically evaluate information in the media and on social networks.
Strawberry cultivars are derived from Fragaria × ananassa which arose in 17th century by a chance interspecific hybridisation
Most people don’t find plant research as attractive as, say, developing a cure for cancer. What draws you to the study of plants?
TM: Plants are literally the cornerstones of life on Earth. Without them, we wouldn’t have food or oxygen. Plant research is vital for our future because it helps us understand how to ensure food security and protect the environment. What many people may not realize is that many medicines, including those for cancer, are derived from plants, which provide essential raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, studying plants is not only fascinating but also crucial for sustaining life on Earth.
AK:Our work is a piece of a mosaic that reveals the bigger picture of how plants function and how they can help address global challenges. We study how ribosomes and genetic diversity enable plants to survive and thrive even in extreme conditions. This research is essential for developing crops that can meet challenges like climate change and food security for a growing population. Additionally, we recognise that our research intersects with other fields; for instance, we know that ribosomes in cancer cells differ from those in healthy cells, which could lead to more targeted cancer treatments. Ultimately, our work offers hope that we may one day discover plants with remarkable properties that we can hardly predict today. That’s what keeps us moving forward.
Dr. Paioti from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS leads a prestigious JUNIOR STAR project investigating atropisomers — molecules with potential to revolutionize drug development. He and his team are developing innovative synthesis methods to discover and produce vital pharmaceuticals in more sustainable ways.
Precision of molecular interactions
Dr. Paioti, the principal investigator of the project, became fascinated with chemistry during his university studies, when he discovered the intricate dance of molecules and their effects on the properties of substances. “Much of the beauty in chemistry,” he says, “comes from understanding how molecules interact at the molecular level and how this affects a property that can actually be seen or felt.” One example he is impressed with is that of vincristine, a structurally complex organic molecule that after entering the human body specifically chooses to target cancer cells, showcasing the precision of these molecular interactions.
Atropisomers: key to sustainable drug development?
Dr. Paioti and his team focus on atropisomers — a class of molecules with significant potential in pharmaceutical applications. More accurately, their goal is to develop new methods for synthesizing these molecules while minimizing environmental harm. “Atropisomers are crucial for the future of drug development, and our work aims to expand the repertoire of available compounds, potentially leading to groundbreaking treatments for various diseases,” explains the scientist.
If successful, Dr. Paioti’s project could have a profound impact on both health and sustainability. “In the long term, the project can lead to new pharmaceuticals that can fight deadly diseases such as cancer,” he notes. Additionally, the research could pioneer more eco-friendly chemical processes. For instance, he and his team are developing nickel-catalyzed reactions as a much less toxic alternative to palladium-catalyzed processes, which are also more costly and less common in nature. By utilizing nickel, Dr. Paioti hopes to create more sustainable and accessible methods for producing vital pharmaceuticals.
The importance of international collaboration
This JUNIOR STAR project is inherently international, reflecting Dr. Paioti’s belief that “science should have no borders”. After studying chemistry in Brazil, completing his PhD in the USA, followed by a postdoc in France, his career path led him to Czechia. After all these experiences, he deeply values the diverse perspectives that come from a multicultural team. His current group includes members of five different nationalities. “The project will only be truly successful if we collaborate with researchers from abroad as well from here,” he says, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation in scientific success and progress.
The scientific team from the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice led by Jan Mráz, has made significant discoveries in the field of fishpond management and fish nutrition in the ponds.
Thanks to a GACR Standard project 22-18597S, they have discovered that the natural food and ecosystem in ponds can significantly improve the digestion of carps. Specifically, plankton and the pond environment work together to break down tough foods such as cellulose, chitin, and phosphorus in the fish’s stomach. Interestingly, during periods when the water is clear and low in algae but high in tiny zooplankton, carp digestion improves even more. This “Synergistic Digestibility Effect,” theorized in 2022 and confirmed in the researchers’ current study, could help manage fishponds more efficiently in the future (Fig 1).
Fig. 1: (BioRender JA26MXISBO)
Another discovery revealed how fish manage phosphorus in shallow lakes, which has a significant impact on algae growth. In a feeding state (active metabolism), fish typically balance their nutrient levels by releasing excess nitrogen and phosphorus, benefiting algal growth.
Fish can store more phosphorus and supply less to algae when the food base is selectively rich in lysine + methionine in overall intake protein and non-protein energy (i.e., carbohydrate and lipid energy share in overall intake energy). To the extent that there could be potential phosphorus absorption from water. Conversely, a lack of these nutrients in the food base leads to increased phosphorus release by fish, promoting algal growth. Scaly fish tend to recycle less phosphorus for algae than scaleless fish.
Their research suggests that not all carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorus in aquatic food webs are equally important for predicting phosphorus recycling by fish. Certain forms of nitrogen or carbon are more influential in regulating phosphorus levels. Balancing fish diets artificially and maintaining stocks of scaly fish might offer future solutions for managing eutrophication. For a deeper dive into the findings of Associate Professor Mráz and his team, read the full study published in the journal Science of The Total Environment (Fig 2).
Fig. 2: (BioRender MQ26VEPQTJ)
These findings from the GACR project 22-18597S are a significant step forward in the realm of nutritional ecology of aquatic consumers and the ecological stoichiometry theory of freshwaters. The findings are valuable for managing nutrient cycles and eutrophication of shallow lake ecosystems, including fishponds. The research team also respected open science practice, as the datasets were made publicly available with the publications.
Written by: Koushik Roy, Ph.D., doc. Antonin Kouba, Ph.D.
Roy, K., Kajgrova, L., Capkova, L., Zabransky, L., Petraskova, E., Dvorak, P., Nahlik, V., Kuebutornye, F.K.A., Blabolil, P., Blaha, M., Vrba, J. and Mraz, J., 2024. Synergistic digestibility effect by planktonic natural food and habitat renders high digestion efficiency in agastric aquatic consumers. Science of the Total Environment, 927, 172105. (IF 2023: 9.8). Linked Dataset.
Roy, K., Vrba, J., Kuebutornye, F.K., Dvorak, P., Kajgrova, L. and Mraz, J., 2024. Fish stocks as phosphorus sources or sinks: Influenced by nutritional and metabolic variations, not solely by dietary content and stoichiometry. Science of the Total Environment 938, 173611. (IF 2023: 9.8). Linked Dataset.
During the process of meiosis, which is necessary for sexual reproduction, DNA breaks occur, and repairs take place. PARG-1, a key regulator, plays a role in maintaining genome integrity and offers insights relevant to human health. Thanks to a Standard Grant provided by The Czech Science Foundation to Nicola Silva at Masaryk University, he was able to explore the complexities of DNA repair dynamics in the germ line.
Human cells consist of 46 chromosomes, half of which are received from our mother and the other half from our father. During development, all sexually reproducing organisms undergo a process called meiosis, in which chromosome number is reduced by half into the newly formed germ cells, oocytes and sperm. Upon fertilization, the genetic information carried by oocyte and sperm fuses into the zygote, thus reconstituting the original number of chromosomes.
Several mechanisms exist in meiosis to ensure that each gamete, sperm and oocyte, receives the right number of chromosomes. If the process is inaccurate and leads to the production of dysfunctional gametes, it can result in the transmission of inheritable mutations to the offspring.
One key aspect of meiosis is the exchange of physical DNA sequences within each pair of maternal and parental homologous chromosome in a process called Homologous Recombination. DNA lesions called double-strand breaks (DSBs) are created, maternal and parental chromosomes physically connect and exchange DNA sequences to achieve repair of these breaks, resulting in the formation of a crossover.
Crossovers are essential for faithful segregation of chromosomes into the daughter cells, and at the same time they lead to reshuffling of genetic traits, promoting genetic diversity. However, the number of breaks produced during meiosis in the germ cells greatly surpasses the final number of crossovers, indicating that repair systems that use homologous sequences to restore genome integrity can also produce non-crossovers events.
Tight regulation of the number of DNA double-strand breaks
DNA interruptions carry an intrinsic threat to genome integrity, therefore their number, placement across the genome, as well as the activation of the DNA repair system(s) in charge to resolve them, must be tightly regulated. Several genes involved in the regulation of DNA repair have been identified over the years and mutations in virtually any of these contribute to the development of cancer-prone syndromes in humans, such as breast/ovarian cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1/BRCA2, Fanconi Anaemia, and many others.
One way of controlling DNA repair is through the attachment of chemical groups to a protein after synthesis or the removal of signal peptides after cellular localization in a process called post-translational modification. One of the major changes that occur in response to DNA damage is Poly(ADP)ribosylation (PARylation), a process in which ADP-ribose units are added to substrates to regulate their activity. Although extensively studied in ex vivo models, examining PARylation in living organisms has been challenging in mammals due to the embryonic lethality associated with the complete loss of function mutations in its “writers,” PARP1/2. These enzymes are responsible for synthesizing ADP-ribose chains in response to genotoxic stress. Additionally, the “eraser” enzyme PARG, which counteracts PARP1/2 activity by breaking down ADP-ribose chains, further complicates in vivo analysis.
The non-parasitic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a renowned model system for genome stability studies, confers a tremendous advantage compared to other models since loss-of-function mutations in both PARP1/2 or PARG are tolerated, allowing study of their function within the germ line.
Thanks to a Standard Grant provided by The Czech Science Foundation to Nicola Silva at the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, an in-depth and unprecedented in vivo analysis of the roles exerted by these proteins could be carried out, leading to the identification of crucial functions performed particularly by PARG-1 (C. elegans homolog of mammalian PARG) during meiosis.
By exploiting genome editing techniques (CRISPR), we were able to assess PARG-1 localization in developing oocytes, a task that was never carried out before. Our analysis revealed that PARG-1 is an integral component of an important meiotic scaffold that keeps the chromosomes tightly aligned during meiosis, called the Synaptonemal Complex (SC) (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Oocytes at the indicated stage stained for different subunits of the SC and PARG-1 (GFP). From Janisiw et al.; Nature Communications, 2020.
Moreover, we were able to find that PARG-1 establishes protein complexes also with proteins involved in the induction and processing of meiotic DSBs across species. By exploiting the powerful genetics provided by C. elegans, we discovered that strikingly PARG-1 is important to regulate the number of DNA breaks during germ cells development, and to promote their precise repair by homologous recombination (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Oocytes stained for different SC subunits and the crossover sites in mutants with reduced DSBs, after irradiation. From Janisiw et al.; Nature Communications, 2020.
Lastly, we discovered that the ability of PARG-1 to localize along the chromosomes holds crucial roles during DSB induction and homologous recombination, indicating that not only PARG-1 carries out enzymatic functions but is also important from a structural perspective.
We were also interested in deciphering the protein network established by PARG-1 and its interactors within the germ cells. This analysis led to the identification of a physical and functional interaction with the BRC-1-BRD-1 complex, which in humans is homologue to BRCA1-BARD1. These proteins perform major roles in regulating genome stability in mitotic cells, however their functions during meiosis are more elusive. Our work revealed that contemporaneous removal of PARG-1 and BRC-1 caused elevated infertility due to extensive genome instability. In particular, we observed that many DNA lesions physiologically generated during meiosis were not processed correctly, leading to the formation of chromosome fusions and reduced levels of recombination.
By removing different DNA repair pathways together with BRC-1/PARG-1 we observed detrimental effects on genome integrity caused by lack of the polymerase POLQ-1 (Figure 3), known to mediate an important DNA repair pathway called “alternative non-homologous end joining”.
Figure 3. Oocytes of the indicated genotype and stage stained for a marker of single-stranded DNA, highlighting presence of unrepaired damage in absence of BRC-1-PARG-1. From Trivedi et al.; Nucleic Acids Research, 2022.
Our work was the first in vivo evidence showing that under compromised BRC-1/BRCA1 function, PARG-1/PARG activity is essential to maintain genome integrity in gametes. Furthermore, our finding on the synthetic lethality triggered by simultaneous POLQ-BRCA1 abrogation of function also carries tremendous ramifications for cancer therapy and nicely aligns with recent findings in humans that show promising results in targeting tumorous cells with POLQ inhibitors as a novel strategy to improve therapeutic outcomes in BRCA1-mutated tumours. Altogether, our work emphasizes the pivotal role that model systems carry for the analysis of conserved pathways in simpler organisms and further corroborates on the crucial contribution of basic science to human health.
Internationalisation and international cooperation are one of the priorities of the Czech Science Foundation (GACR). The number of project proposals submitted by foreign applicants increases every year and so does the ratio of foreign investigators to Czech ones.
JUNIOR STAR projects are no exception in this matter. These grants are intended for excellent scientists in their early careers who have already published in international journals, have had a substantial experience abroad and at the same time did not receive their PhDs longer than 8 years ago.
This article introduces some of the successful non-Czech scientists who are currently investigating their GACR JUNIOR STAR projects.
Normalisation and Emergence: Rethinking the Dynamics of Mathematics. The case of Prague in the First Half of the 19th Century
Elías Fuentes Guillén, Ph.D., Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
“We will provide a better understanding of the circulation and development of mathematical knowledge and practices in the Czech lands during the first half of the 19th century.“
The development of Mathematics in Prague and the Czech lands within the European context of the late 18th century and the first half of the 19th century is severely understudied. Specifically, how and why certain ways of doing mathematics were set as a norm and different or new practices were integrated or emerged. To bring more light and to deeply study and understand these dynamics of Mathematics is the aim of the JUNIOR STAR project of Dr. Elías Fuentes Guillén. “In such a context, my team and I are particularly interested in the cases of Prague and Bernard Bolzano, as both can be regarded as actors of its own kind, and furthermore, we seek to revitalise and make long-term contributions to Bolzano studies,” points out the principal investigator Dr. Fuentes Guillén.
The project involves in-depth research on institutions, such as the University of Prague, societies or groups, such as the Royal Bohemian Society of Sciences, and individuals, such as private teachers, all of which transmitted mathematical practices through teachings and different activities and texts. But it also delves into the motivations of those actors who were first and foremost the ones establishing certain practices as norms, namely imperial authorities, church, nobles, or aristocrats. “Our research requires studying published works, drafts, examinations, diaries, letters, etc. of maths teachers, students and practitioners, but also other materials that account for the contexts, including decrees, maps, sermons, or library and book-fair catalogues,” explains Dr. Fuentes Guillén.
Dr. Fuentes Guillén, who originally comes from Mexico, cooperates on the project with, among others, a research group at the University of Seville and the International Bernard Bolzano Society. He is also contributing to the critical edition of Bolzano’s works. In addition to delivering a number of publications, he and his team will build a digital archive of Bolzano’s manuscripts and train a handwritten text recognition model. They have also established the Bernard Bolzano Collection in the library of the Institute of Philosophy in Prague. With these results he intends to consolidate a research unit on Bolzano and his context at the Institute.
Elías Fuentes Guillén, Ph.D. (Photo by: Jana Říhová from the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences)
Atomic-scale control and visualization of charge delocalization in light-harvesting molecular nanomodels
Bruno de la Torre, Ph.D., Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc
“By understanding the electronic and structural properties of new ‘molecular components’ we can develop prototypes of molecular devices.”
The transfer of charge between organic molecules controls many naturally occurring phenomena such as photosynthesis, cellular respiration in living organisms, or DNA damage and repair. Dr de la Torre’s JUNIOR STAR project will investigate specific aspects of the process of photosynthesis, in which plants and bacteria efficiently convert light into other forms of energy, and which is made possible by a complex photosynthetic apparatus involving many molecular structures. The project aims to identify critical parts of this process that, if fully understood, could help to replicate this behaviour on a larger scale. Another key priority of the project, then, is to understand the movement of charges in molecules, which plays a crucial role in the whole process.
Although the research focuses primarily on atomic-scale discoveries, it is possible that the results of the project will stimulate the development of nanoscale light harvesting devices based on organic components. “Once we have a deeper understanding of charge transfer and molecular behaviour, our findings may contribute to the design of new energy harvesting technologies that mimic natural processes at the atomic level,” explains investigator Dr de la Torre.
Under the supported project, the research team will collaborate and exchange knowledge with international experts and institutions, giving the project a global scale and the potential for international contributions in the field of molecular electronics and nanotechnology.
“Direct applications may not be immediately obvious, but our research could still lay the foundations for future technological advances. As society increasingly seeks cleaner and greener solutions, we envision a future where humans seek to replicate natural processes using nanotechnology,” concludes Dr. de la Torre, who has been based in Czechia since 2016.
Bruno de la Torre, Ph.D.
Particle identification in high-energy physics experiments and space with advanced detection systems
Dr. rer. nat. Benedikt Bergmann, Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague
“We will improve detectors that measure invisible particles of ionizing radiation, known as radioactivity.”
In contrast to the well-known radioactivity detectors, which emit a typical crackling sound whenever ionising radiation is detected, the detectors developed by Dr. Bergmann are more like “radiation cameras”, because they cannot only detect radioactivity, but also visualise it. In his JUNIOR STAR project, he will use modern machine-learning approaches to match recognised shapes to specific types of particles, their energies and directions of flight. Moreover, by being no bigger than a human thumb, the detectors Dr. Bergmann is developing will far surpass the instruments currently in use, which require enormous computing power and complex combinations of different detector technologies.
“The miniaturization of the instrumentation will allow for application in places where otherwise precise radiation field analysis was complicated due to limited space, weight or power budgets. For example, in space, the miniaturization will allow for application on small satellites or to be deployed for remote measurements on the moon or other planets,” explains investigator of the project Benedikt Bergmann.
Dr. Bergmann, who has been working in the Czech Republic since 2012, has managed to reach out and attract scientists from leading universities such as the University of Cambridge or University College London to his research team. Their research will involve collaborations with institutions such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The experimental part of the project will take place, for example, at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US.
Thanks to a project supported by the GACR, Associate Professor Mraz’s research team is investigating how balanced fish nutrition can influence nutrient excretion and combat undesirable eutrophication in Central European carp ponds, thus helping to counteract negative environmental impacts.
Central European standing water bodies, the main part of them consisting of carp ponds, suffer from strong eutrophication (an excess of available nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus). This eutrophication is often associated with the currently conducted feeding (farming) management in these fishponds, which does not consider the balanced nutritional needs of the growing fish. Our present study provides an understanding of how fish nutrition shapes nutrient excretion and eventually eutrophication. The study concludes that in spring and autumn, the status quo diets lead to inefficient resource use and indirectly to poor ecological conditions. Improved efficiency of ecosystem resource use and tackling eutrophication may be achieved by ‘bio-manipulating’ these fishponds towards a more balanced fish nutrition. The study calls for balanced pond feeds that optimize resource utilization efficiency and stimulate fish to better exploit natural food – in such a way that ecosystem services are maintained.
The authors feel future researchers could carry the baton forward with the novel understanding this article offers, especially the ecological management of these important pond ecosystems and the cleaner aquatic food production from the pondscapes of Central Europe.
A graphical summary of the presented concept. High = beginning of the vegetative season (lacking carbohydrate energy in ponds). Low = end of the vegetative season (lacking some indispensable amino acids in ponds). Balanced = short transition time (beginning-to-mid summer) when zooplankton-zoobenthos is sufficient and cereals are introduced in a pond. Suspended losses = losses through faeces (undigested nutrients). Reactive losses = losses through gills and urine (discarding of digested nutrients). Nutrient loading from fish stock to a pond ecosystem is at a minimum when the pond diet is balanced.
Detailed information is available in the original article: Roy, K., Vrba, J., Kajgrova, L. and Mraz, J., 2022. The concept of balanced fish nutrition in temperate European fishponds to tackle eutrophication. Journal of Cleaner Production 364: 132584. (Impact factor: 11.072, Article influence score: 1.376, IF/AIS quartile: Q1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132584
Written by: MSc. Koushik Roy, Ph.D., doc. Antonin Kouba, Ph.D. (Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Fakulta rybářství a ochrany vod)
Cover photo courtesy: Ing. Tomas Kolarik (Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Fakulta rybářství a ochrany vod)
Insects dominate the Earth’s biodiversity; nevertheless, the vertebrates are primarily employed as models in evolutionary and conservation research, and insects have been neglected. The team headed by Ladislav Bocak from the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) in Olomouc carried out the GACR project “Evolution of aposematic patterns in large Müllerian mimetic systems” that focused on highly diverse tropical net-winged beetles as a novel model for the study of mimicry. They identified high diversity of their model group, including ~1,000 unnamed species.
Prey’s signaling of unpalatability to potential predators is intensively studied, but researchers have traditionally focused on interactions between a few butterflies and birds. The results enabled the formulation of the principles under which evolves the similarity of an unpalatable aposematically colored prey and its mimics (i.e., Batesian and Müllerian mimicry). Most mimetic systems are more complex, with up to a hundred interacting species and multiple predators with different visual perceptions, including spiders and insects.
The phylogeny-based classification is a basis for any evolutionary research.
“We based our research on 30-year field experience and material collected in the whole tropics, especially the mountains, where many aposematically colored species interact in restricted areas. Current DNA sequencing methods allowed us to base our research on robust phylogenetic relationships and rapid molecular inventory. With such an approach, we can study large and complex biological systems and formulate hypotheses on processes that govern the evolution of mimetic patterns,” says Prof. L. Bocak.
The structures employed for aposematic signaling can have a common origin (elytral costae of various species, left) or are just an illusion if differently colored setae resemble true costae (Micronychus pardus, right).
The entomologists from CATRIN used phylogenomics and Sanger data to elucidate relationships of net-winged beetles to other families, defined main lineages, and the internal relationships in the focal group that contains 2,000 sequenced species. Phylogenetics identified the uniform brightly colored dorsum as the ancestral aposematic signal of net-winged beetles. The now dominant bicolored elytra originated later and only relatively recently evolved complex bands and stripes that added an arrangement of differently colored body parts to the signal. Dr. M. Motyka, as a co-investigator, says: “We showed the trend to the increasing color distance between the prey and various backgrounds and, later, the higher internal contrast between bright and dark body parts. Our results show that the evolution enhances the strength of the aposematic signal but that some beetles retain a simple ancestral signal despite their long-term coexistence with relatives emitting a more effective warning. Besides such an intrinsic limit, allochthonous species enter the area of endemic color patterns and further increase the complexity of interactions. The success of dispersing species depends not only on the numbers of individuals but also on the strength of their signal and the ability of predators to get familiar with an additional type of warning in the large multipattern communities.”
We can date the origins of aposematic patterns and recover their ancestral areas with molecular phylogenetics.
The authors further studied if the species could react to the complex situation by polymorphism. Therefore, they learned with the next-RAD method population-level relationships and proved quite common origins of mimetic polymorphism that has not been reported in net-winged beetles. Additionally, they documented that the differences in the male and female body size can direct the evolution to the sexual polymorphism in the aposematic coloration.
Unrelated beetles commonly copy the net-winged beetle patterns. This example shows two subfamilies of net-winged beetles and one species of false click beetles.
The team from CATRIN builds the research program on extensive field research and the collaboration with the Binatang Research Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum in London. The data for monitoring tropical diversity with phylogenomic and mtDNA data enabled the identification of ~1,000 unnamed species in the DNA database. The unknown diversity was predicted, but now the specimens and molecular data provide an undisputable benchmark for evaluating diversity loss.
Co-investigators, M. Motyka (upper middle) and D. Kusý (kneeling left) with local field assistants, and J. Kua (bottom, right), a researcher from the Binatang Research Center in Madang, Papua New Guinea.
The outputs of the project were reported in over 20 journal publications.
The first image: The aposematic signals are simple, but their diversity is enormous and includes various patterns in close interactions.
An international team of researchers, led by economists from Masaryk University, have created new modelling tools that allow for more precise predictions of macroeconomic variables such as GDP growth, inflation or interest rates. Novel economic methods developed within the Dynamic Forecast Averaging of Macroeconomics Models project, supported by GA CR, may contribute significantly to evidence-based economic policymaking. The research team aimed to understand how to combine forecasts from different theoretical models and obtain more reliable estimates of the effects of government expenditure and tax changes on GDP growth.
Improving existing prediction models
Obtaining reliable predictions of future changes in economic variables such as GDP is extremely important for policymakers, investors, and companies. The existing theoretical methods aimed at providing forecasts and policy advice rely on particular assumptions about the behaviour of economic agents and highlight different economic transmission mechanisms. In this project, researchers from Masaryk University, the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Charles University and the University of Salzburg joined forces to improve the existing macroeconometric methods to combine the information from theoretical models that stress different economic linkages into composite predictions.
The heatmaps show the deviation of the prior from the posterior mean within the two different regimes using the change in debt-to-GDP as threshold variable. Light grey cells indicate a good fit of the DSGE prior, blue regions imply positive deviations of the posterior from the prior mean, whereas red coloured regions indicate negative deviations of the coefficients. Figure from the article published in Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control.
One work package of the project addressed how fiscal policy (changes in government expenditure or taxes) affects GDP growth in European economies, that is, how large the so-called fiscal multiplier is. Given the economic importance of the public sector in industrialized countries, obtaining precise estimates of fiscal multipliers is particularly important in order to improve forecasts of economic activity. Better multiplier estimates can be obtained by assessing how the use of different methods affects their size. Such an analysis also allows practitioners to understand the biases in current fiscal multipliers estimates.
The dark density corresponds to the full set of fiscal multiplier estimates for Austria; the light density refers to the top 40% best models in terms of predictive ability. Figure from the article published in Oxford Economic Papers.
In parallel to the effects of public policy, other important markets such as the foreign exchange market and the market for cryptocurrencies were also studied in detail. New statistical techniques were developed to obtain a more realistic picture of their driving factors and future dynamics. Such modelling tools can significantly reduce the prediction error in the exchange rate and cryptocurrency returns.
Log predictive Bayes factors relative to the TVP-VAR over time: (a) Bitcoin; (b) Litecoin; (c) Ethereum; (d) log predictive likelihood. Figure from the article published in Journal of Forecasting.
How to combine information from different models of the economy
As part of the project’s ultimate aim, a group of different theoretical models designed to explain macroeconomic dynamics were combined, using novel methods to improve their predictive power. In particular, the research team created several types of adaptive weights that can be used for different macroeconomic variables and different models, leading to better forecasting ability for GDP growth, inflation, and interest rates. The methods used in this phase of the project are expected to result in an improved toolkit that will inform policymakers about future developments in the macroeconomy, thus leading to better decisions in public policy.
Posterior mean of model weights over the hold-out sample for four-step-ahead predictions. The figure shows three different weighting schemes for the three target variables: output, inflation, and interest rate. Variables entering the DSGE models are detrended with the Hamilton filter.
A follow-up of the project is currently expanding the portfolio of models that can be used to create combined predictions and will thus lead to further improvements of predictive ability beyond those reported in this research endeavour. In particular, forecasts of new data-driven statistical models that do not rely on particular theories will be added to the predictions pool and are expected to improve the predictive quality of the resulting combinations. The follow-up project On the time-varying predictive ability of theoretical and empirical macroeconomic models is also supported by GA CR.
Jesús Crespo Cuaresma, principal investigator
Jan Čapek, team member, coordinator of the international team
Research dealing with the development of thin flexible ceramic substrates with optimized electrical properties for plasma sources was evaluated as excellent by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. Under the leadership of professors Martin Trunec and Mirko Černák, a team of experts from CEITEC BUT and the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University worked on it. They would now like to continue on this basic three-year research.
The idea originated over a beer in a garden meet up. “We speculated about a new direction in the research of ceramic materials for the generation of barrier discharges. It was there that the basic impulse was created, which we then wrote down in the form of a project. It took us about a year,” describes one of the leaders, Martin Trunec from CEITEC BUT.
Specifically, it was a three-year project under the auspices of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, entitled Flexible Ceramic Substrates with Optimized Electrical Properties, and was undertaken in the years 2018–2020. The main goal of the project was the development of thin flexible ceramic substrates with optimized electrical properties for plasma sources. “Preparing such substrates required the development of a new method of preparation that will allow the creation of very thin ceramic substrates with the required properties from nanometer particles,” says Martin Trunec.
The researchers also investigated the material composition of ceramic substrates to achieve optimal conditions for plasma ignition and combustion. “When dealing with the project, we tried to prepare a ceramic material which, with its physicochemical properties, would facilitate the ignition and maintenance of low-temperature discharge, because this is the key element for industrial applications,” says Mirko Černák from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University, who with his team focused mainly on assembling plasma lamps and testing them.
But as we know from everyday life, flexibility is not a typical property of ceramic materials. “However, theoretical calculations during the research have shown that ceramic substrates can be highly flexible if the material has high strength and the substrate is thin enough. We subsequently confirmed this experimentally,” explains Martin Trunec. Thanks to years of experience in the field of advanced ceramic materials, he and his team have sponsored the process of preparing ceramic substrates.
The developed plasma lamps based on thin ceramic substrates can serve, for example, as basic units of new advanced devices used in the industry for plasma cleaning of inorganic impurities, for disinfection, ozone preparation, or, for example, in seed germination devices.
According to both group leaders, the cooperation of researchers from two important Brno institutions and the strong involvement of young students contributed to the successful outcome of the project. “During the project, the students increased their qualifications and at the same time provided the team with a constant flow of new ideas, and also contributed to resolving complications that we did not anticipate,” emphasizes Mirko Černák.
The output of an extensive project is, among other things, eight professional publications. “We have advanced knowledge in the field of dielectric barrier discharges used to generate low-temperature atmospheric plasma. We are now continuing to work with partial knowledge,” concludes Martin Trunec. The researchers have therefore already applied for a follow-up project and hope to investigate and design ceramic substrates that increase free radical production in a low-temperature atmospheric discharge even more effectively. These could also be used in the future, for example, for surface sterilization or ozone production.
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The structures employed for aposematic signaling can have a common origin (elytral costae of various species, left) or are just an illusion if differently colored setae resemble true costae (Micronychus pardus, right).
We can date the origins of aposematic patterns and recover their ancestral areas with molecular phylogenetics.
Co-investigators, M. Motyka (upper middle) and D. Kusý (kneeling left) with local field assistants, and J. Kua (bottom, right), a researcher from the Binatang Research Center in Madang, Papua New Guinea.
